Game day Thread Kansas 11am CST ESPN

[AdaSooner]

I think he’ll continue to come off the bench. Manek is a team guy.

Agreed. I didn’t see any evidence of him pouting. He seemed to accept his role like a team player.

 

[bob the nailer]

Did Lon keep Kuath on the bench to keep McCormack out of the game? He was killing us early in the game(McCormack, not Kuath) but only ended up playing sixteen minutes only had 2 fouls so it wasn't that.

 

[sanguinetti]

Agreed. I didn’t see any evidence of him pouting. He seemed to accept his role like a team player.

he had some tough boards and hustle plays today.

sweet drive for the hoop by gibson down the stretch.

great game by harmon, really happy with the win.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Always a reason to celebrate! They don’t come easy or often.

Quietly that is 3 out of the last 4 in norman.

 

[skyvue]

Did Lon keep Kuath on the bench to keep McCormack out of the game? He was killing us early in the game(McCormack, not Kuath) but only ended up playing sixteen minutes only had 2 fouls so it wasn't that.

Toby suggested that a) Self thought Kuath was a tough matchup for McCormack on defense and b) Brady was a tough matchup for McCormack on offense. Coach Kruger, in his postgame interview with Toby, responded to and agreed with the latter point, that Self didn't want McCormack having to come out and play the three-point line.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Did Lon keep Kuath on the bench to keep McCormack out of the game? He was killing us early in the game(McCormack, not Kuath) but only ended up playing sixteen minutes only had 2 fouls so it wasn't that.

That was interesting. Ku went small. Not sure that was a great idea

 

[BoulderSooner]

I think he’ll continue to come off the bench. Manek is a team guy.

Unless a team we play puts 2 real bigs in the game. I thinks Brady will only get min at the 5 the rest of the way

 

[stormspencer]

Did Lon keep Kuath on the bench to keep McCormack out of the game? He was killing us early in the game(McCormack, not Kuath) but only ended up playing sixteen minutes only had 2 fouls so it wasn't that.

I think it was Lon matching what Self was doing. McCormack was getting the shots he wanted early, but he was also missing some bunnies and you could tell Self was pissed. Self also tried to go small because KU was turning it over on offense some and they were having problems defending (individually) our smaller, 4-guard lineup on the perimter.

 

[BoulderSooner]

I think it was Lon matching what Self was doing. McCormack was getting the shots he wanted early, but he was also missing some bunnies and you could tell Self was pissed. Self also tried to go small because KU was turning it over on offense some and they were having problems defending (individually) our smaller, 4-guard lineup on the perimter.

Brady at the 5 makes it really hard for McCormack. He doesn’t want to be out on the 3 point line at all.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Brady at the 5 makes it really hard for McCormack. He doesn’t want to be out on the 3 point line at all.

And self thinks much higher of Manek than lots of posters here

 

[stormspencer]

Bringing Brady off of the bench might be a good move, for the team and for him. He seemed to be more relaxed in today’s game.

I think it's beneficial to bring him off the bench for now. When he does sub in, for the most part....he will be going against a backup post man. And I think he will have the advantage in that scenario on most nights. You can tell he has worked on his post moves because he looks fluid. However, he still has issues finishing around the basket and playing through contact.

 

[stormspencer]

Brady at the 5 makes it really hard for McCormack. He doesn’t want to be out on the 3 point line at all.

Yep...McCormack is a good player and decent post defender, but him attempting to guard the perimeter would be an abject disaster. Plus he is probably their best rebounder and you can't have your best rebounder constantly drawn out to the 3-point line.

 

[Sooner04]

Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime. That's old dogs and children and watching Kansas whine.

ldwt356:

 

[AdaSooner]

I think it's beneficial to bring him off the bench for now. When he does sub in, for the most part....he will be going against a backup post man. And I think he will have the advantage in that scenario on most nights. You can tell he has worked on his post moves because he looks fluid. However, he still has issues finishing around the basket and playing through contact.

Excellent points! I never really thought about subbing in would put him against a back up big on defense.

 

[opsooner]

Harmon was deservedly POG. Harkless was a close second. Reaves didn’t have his best game but was still good. Love how he wants the ball when the opponent needs to foul. And the fact that almost everyone can make FTs is awesome. Team D has dramatically improved.

This team is becoming the team I thought they could be. Deepest team OU has had in many years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Darwin]

Excellent points! I never really thought about subbing in would put him against a back up big on defense.

That is a good point in the 1st half but he was in down the 2nd half stretch when everyone plays the best.

 

[skyvue]

I'm rewatching the game now with the TV announcers (I always listen to OU's radio broadcast during the live game). Ol' Fran is practically frothing with excitement over KU during the first 90 seconds of the second half. "Vintage Self," he called it... because they scored the first four points of the second half.

 

[lexusooner]

This team is fun to watch. They are getting after people on the defensive end. Harkless was the unsung hero today with is rebounding and defense ....

 

[WichitaSooner]

Brady at the 5 makes it really hard for McCormack. He doesn’t want to be out on the 3 point line at all.

Yes, based on the postgame comments, Lon played Brady at the 5 for this exact reason. I have to admit, when Brady was struggling for a stretch in the second half, I was hoping Lon would take him out, but playing him did result in Self keeping McCormack on the bench and eliminating KU’s only true big. I love those kind of chess matches between two great coaches. So fun to watch.

 

[NYC-Fool]

Agreed it was a well coached game. Lon obviously knows Kansas well and how to game plan — pretty sure he was the first to deploy the hack-azabuike strategy and many followed